The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Nor’easter Hammers Region

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Leaves Tens of Thousands Without Power
Local, county, and state highway officials, as well as field technicians tasked with restoring power had their work cut out for them earlier this week, as a massive, multi-day nor’easter hammered Rensselaer and surrounding counties with rain, wind, and heavy snow. The storm dumped as much as three feet in some areas, making travel difficult, if not impossible, and knocking out power for tens of thousands in the region. 

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DEC Issues Final Water Quality Guidance to Regulate PFOAs

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Submitted by the NYSDEC
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) recently announced the issuance of final water quality guidance values to regulate Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), and 1,4-Dioxane (1,4-D) in New York State waters. The finalized guidance values support the state’s ongoing efforts to protect public health, as well as the environment, and to prevent exposure to emerging contaminants through the protection of drinking water sources. Additionally, the new guidance values for PFOS and 1,4-Dioxane provide protection for aquatic life. 

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Annual Residential Brush Burning Ban

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Submitted by the NYSDEC
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced the annual statewide ban prohibiting residential brush burning will run through May 14. Even though some areas of the state remain blanketed in snow, warming temperatures can quickly cause wildfire conditions to arise. Open burning of debris is the single-largest cause of spring wildfires in New York State. When temperatures warm and the past fall's debris and leaves dry out, wildfires can start and spread easily, further fueled by winds and a lack of green vegetation. Each year, DEC Forest Rangers extinguish dozens of wildfires that burn hundreds of acres. In addition, local fire departments, many of which are staffed by volunteers, all too often have to leave their jobs and families to respond to wildfires caused by illegal debris fires. DEC will post the fire danger map for the 2023 fire season on DEC's website once there is a moderate risk anywhere in New York.

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Brunswick Cell Tower Extension a Done Deal

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by Doug La Rocque
Even before the ink on the application was dry, the Brunswick Planning Board learned that a planned 20-foot extension of the cell tower located on land at the intersection of Creek Road and Menemsha Lane is a go, if Blue Sky Towers meets the minimum federal criteria. Under a federal law adopted during the Obama administration, neither local nor state officials can stop it. The law allows for a one-time increase in tower height, in this case, to add an AT&T antenna array above the current Verizon Wireless array already on the tower.

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FFA Members Attend Leadership Conference

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Submitted by HFCSD Communications
Recently, six members from the Hoosick Falls FFA Chapter attended the annual NYS FFA Member Leadership Series (MLS) Conference in Syracuse. This conference is held to empower agriculture education students with knowledge and skills that they need to be confident and capable leaders.

FFA members Jessica Haynes, Amber Bulson, Cole Ziehm, Luke Hoag, Karson Holbrook, and Lucias Gaillard learned about the importance of leadership, how to build trust with others, and how FFA helps develop those skills that can be used to improve their chapter, school, and community.

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New Lebanon Roadside Clean-Up Day

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On Earth Day, Saturday, April 22nd, at 10 am, the Town of New Lebanon will be having a roadside clean-up day. We’ll meet at the Shatford Park pavilion to form teams and assign routes. We will work for an hour and then return to the park to celebrate our work with refreshments. If you plan on attending, please contact Bob Gilson at nlcac.gilson@gmail.com.

County Announces Bus Safety Program 

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Courtesy of Rensselaer County
Rensselaer County has announced a new school bus safety program in partnership with BusPatrol that will enable school buses to utilize automated enforcement solutions to enhance student safety. As part of the county program, school districts that participate will be able to equip their entire school bus fleet with BusPatrol stop-arm photo enforcement technology to capture the license plates of motorists who illegally pass stopped school buses that put children in danger as they get on and off the bus.

So far, Hoosic Valley Central, Hoosick Falls Central, Schodack Central, Berlin Central, Averill Park Central, Brunswick (Brittonkill) Central, East Greenbush Central, and Wynantskill Union Free school districts have started installation. The school bus fleets at each district, totaling more than 400 buses, will be outfitted with modern safety technology.

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Wounded Warrior Snowfest

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Submitted by STRIDE Adaptive Sports
On Friday, March 3rd, STRIDE Adaptive Sports held the 18th annual Wounded Warrior Snowfest Welcome Ceremony, which gathers veterans and their families for a weekend of fun at Jiminy Peak and other attractions.

STRIDE Adaptive Sports provides special needs individuals with the opportunity to participate in recreational and sporting activities.

Each year STRIDE selects a new group of Wounded Warriors, who have returned from deployment with permanent injuries, to spend a weekend of adaptive skiing and snow sports that are adapted for success for any diagnosis. The experience is meant to connect and engage wounded veterans with a local support network of veterans who have previously participated in STRIDE programs. This year the Wounded Warrior Snowfest honored 8 new and 5 alumni Warriors.

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Installation Banquet and Awards Dinner

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Submitted by Sidewinder Photography
On Saturday, March 4th, The Raymertown Fire Company came together for their 75th Annual Banquet and Awards dinner at the Pittstown Volunteer Ambulance Corp banquet hall. This year, on top of the multiple awards normally given out, a special Future Firefighter Award was presented to six-year-old Lucas Bulson. 

Chief Robert Beebe told the crowd in attendance, “This person has the uncanny ability to bring a smile and usually a chuckle out of every member he comes into contact with when he is at the station. That is not all he has done; he also rolls hose, checks the tightness of the lugs on the hose and the air pressure of our vehicles, and just generally elevates the mood of everyone in the immediate proximity.”

Lucas has a true passion for the fire service and wants to be a firefighter when he gets older. The Raymertown Fire Company takes great pride in the fact that they have a family-friendly atmosphere, and love to pass on traditions of the fire service to up-and-coming members. [Read more…] about Installation Banquet and Awards Dinner